The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-06-03

Helen, brushing tear from her cheek,
"but l suppose it can't be helped. II
may be that sometime the world will
know that am innocent, though it i
impossible to convince people now"
Il will continue your case for ten
days, my good girl; in the meanwhile
Twill have to commit you. Mr.. Bridges,
the jailOr, is a very nice man, and he
may not lock you up in cell, but lei
You stay with his family"
The suggestion of the justice seemed
to strike the sheriff favorably. He
said he would see Bridges about it. Mr..
Bridges had the front part of the jail
converted into a dwelling where him.
self and family lived. He was found
and the thing talked over. If it could
be done he had no. objection. Mr..
Belcher assured him that he had the
opinion of the justice of the peace on
that subject. and that it could be done
with propriety. The result of their
conference on the matter was that they
went to the Justices Office. where
Helen, with her bonnet drawn down
over her face out of modesty, not from
sense of shame. sat.
"Here, Jack" said the justice, TAX
ing up paper. ''here is a commitment
for Helen Lakeman. Her case is con-
tinued for ten days. You might let hel
stay in your house if you have no cell
for her, as your house is a part of the
jail"
xviii you try to get away, Helen.
said the jailer to the girl, ''prOvidin'
don't lock you up?"
Would you believe any promise
would make you?" the girl asked.
swell, yes. l might"
''No one believes what I say; am
innocent of any crime, yet no one be-
lieves me. Even the sheriff insists on
my pleading guilty, and admitting a
crime l never committed.
'No, DON'T" said the sheriff, lit
tie nettled. 81 wanted you to plead
guilty if You committed the offense; il
would be better for you in the end"
Promise me that you will make nc
effort to escape" said the jailer, land
you need not enter the walls of the
jail"
Helen gave her promise, and was told
to "cOme on"
She arose and followed the jailer to
his house. There were many curious
eyes turned upon her, as she went to
the jail, for the news of her arrest had
spread all over the village. She reached
the house of the jailer and was ushered
in.
CHAPTER XIV.
CLARENCE AND ROSE FORM A BRAVE RESOLU
TON, AND CARRY IT OUT.
The news of Helen Lakeman's arrest
spread like wild fire all over the Sandy
Fork neighborhood. Mrs. Arnold. with
her head high in the air, in her en-
deavors to see under her glasses. was
ready to answer any and all questions
in regard to the matter. Mothers Tar
trum and Grundy called on her fol-
their supply of news, and started about
from house to house to peddle it out.
The next Sunday, there being preach
ing at the Sandy Fork schoOl-house, the
news was scattered generally. Mother
Tartrum, who sat next to Mrs. Evans,
said:
Didn't you hear about that Lake
man gal? She stole some money at
Judge Arnold's."
Money! l heard it was bracelet. -
Not was money!"
..Who told you?"
"Mother Grundy."
'.WhO told her?'
''Mrs. Arnold"
Il think there must have been some
mistake about it" said Mrs. Evans.
I'D like to know how?" said Mother
Tartrnm, there can't be no mistake
about it."
..Oh. the bracelet must have been
lost and put among Helen's things by
mistake"
mo it wasn't" said the tattler,
shaking her head; 'no, it wasn't; she
stole it, / know she stole it,
"But Helen was such a good girl.
There can't be any doubt as to her in
nocence."
"You think that thing was good
gal?" asked Mother Tartrum, who
seemed special agent to SANDER
Helen.
Yes"
"Well, she came to Mrs. ArnOld's
way in the night with strange man.
Do you call that nice gal? She's the
she's the worst gal We had in the
The eyes of Mother
Tartrum sparkled with indignation, and
the hairy mole on her cheek trembled
with anger.
as that SOP" asked Mrs. Evans.
Il guess it is; Mrs. Arnold tells il"
Not three seats away Mother Grundy
was harranguing Mrs. Taylor.
wonder what Warren Stuart thinks
o his gal now, Ell? She's bad enough,
guess. guess young men who throw
away such girls as Halle Arnold for
kitchen gal is sure to get beat. She is
jist as bad as can be, and is now locked
up in Jail for thief"
There was one family to whom the
news Of Helen's fall came like = thun-
1erbolt. 1t was the Stuarts. When
Mrs. Stuart first heard of it she burst
INTO tears. and said:
Its all our fault, Jacob! it's all
put fault: We drove her to do it,
Il don't see how we are to blame"